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Monday's announcement by the Big Ten was that any team unable to play due to COVID-19 would be forfeited.
The team responsible for the game will lose, while the opposing team wins.
The game will be deemed a no-contest if both teams are unable or unwilling to participate.
This policy is consistent with other Power Five conferences' for the upcoming season. The Pac-12, ACC, and Big 12 all announced forfeits if a team cannot play due to a COVID-19 epidemic.
The ACC policy is slightly different from the Big Ten's. Both teams will be assessed a forfeit and a loss if their respective teams are unable to play because of outbreaks.
The SEC could have a similar policy, but Greg Sankey, commissioner of the league, said that the league may not make an announcement until the day before the college football season starts. Josh Kendall, The Athletic, reported.
The 2020 college football season was disrupted by the pandemic. After an initial postponement, the Big Ten had an eight-game season. However, outbreaks caused cancellations and no rescheduling.
Ohio State was in five games during the regular season, which almost cost it its hopes of reaching the postseason despite its undefeated record. The Big Ten needed to change its original policy, which required at least six games to be included in the conference title game.
The new policy will ensure that all 2021 games have a record, unless both teams are unable.
